Význam v architektuře Západu – Norberg-Schulz Christian (2020)

The book Significance in Western Architecture by the renowned architectural theorist Christian Norberg-Schulze represents a comprehensive attempt to depict the fundamental transformations of Western building art. However, it is not a typical academic history - the author, based on his conception of architecture as a means of expression, has developed a completely new way of looking at Western architecture in this book. He interprets all the major epochs of Western art from ancient Egypt to the present day and follows the most significant architectural works in the context of the settlements and cities into which they were integrated. The largest part of the text relates to the description and interpretation of buildings, allowing the reader to step through individual historical periods and see how various meanings are embodied in selected structures. Buildings that were attributed a key position in the given community (e.g., a temple or church) provide individuals with basic spiritual grounding through their structure, and the architecture of various cultural epochs - Greek, Roman, Gothic, and others - is viewed as a material expression of the prevailing religious and philosophical beliefs. Significance in Western Architecture thus offers a rare insight into human values and worldviews that manifest in diverse architectural styles. The book...